SEA-BKK on OZ
 

Sort of a live trip report as I tried to write the outbound on the way back but lost the post. Am writing about the 1st 3 legs.

Adding Asiana to faciliate searching once that function is reinstated.

16 Feb. OZ 271 SEA-ICN 777-200 Hull 500

Got to SEA rather early at around 0930. OZ check-in was quite busy already for a flight in 3 hours. Asked Janelle, the Korean (well, all the OZ staff in SEA appear to be Korean or ethnic Korean) check-in agent about using the *A U.K. UG certs. She had never seen one before and needed to see a supervisor. She said she'd catch up with me (I even took her word on it) when she found out.

So proceeded to the A/S securtiy point which was amazingly light. An old slow couple hogging the elevator made me miss the shuttle to the S satellite.

OZ uses the SK lounge. It's a rather drab windowless lounge with somewhat contemporary Scandinavian lounge chairs. Some dry snacks and biscuits, and juices. No alcohol at this hour. 2 internet PCs though only one was working.

At some point, a male ground staffer accompanied by a female one came and found me in the lounge and gave me my new BP for 4A. :)

Go to the gate at 1145 and the staff were profusely apologising for the 10 minute delay in boarding due to a late incoming a/c. Most of the pax appeared to be Viet-Americans on their way back to the homeland for a visit.

Boarding for BP and *A elites called first. Paper cart was at the doorway (2L used). Some 4 FAs assigned to the BC cabin. During the boarding phase, they brought around drinks, a menu (which they recover so sorry, Carfield), reading materials, slippers, eye shades and ear plugs and Korean landing cards. Drinks and dinner order were taken before TO.

Seat:
As noted by others previously, OZ a/c are rather lacking in seating. They're fine but recline is very much lacking and I think the 777 is the worst of the lot (for the widebody Boeing a/c). Pitch can only be 45" at most. Arrangement is 5 rows 2-3-2 between doors 1 and 2. The seat is electronically controlled with the usual adjustments- recline, lumbar, seat cushion extension, leg rest lift and extension. 2 one-step buttons for full recline and landing position. No individual airvents which made the flight miserable later on. I had chosen a Wednesday departure as it appeared (rightly) to be good for upgrades. 26/35 today and I had the aisle seat empty too.

Takeoff was at around 1245 (or was that pushback) in the northerly direction so only a short taxi. Flight path cut over the Olympic peninsula and went for open water straight away.

FAs started lunch service shortly after. Canapes plate of 3 small pieces came. Quite good though everything had a certain NE Asian look to it (what did I expect anyway)? 1st drinks order was also served at this point with a package of nuts. FAs worked in pairs serving from a cart.

Dinner tray was presented next with the appetiser plate and salad. OZ could do better than use prepackaged Nature Fresh salad dressing (which they also use ex-ICN). Portions were small but good. 3 choices of bread including warm garlic toast was offered at least twice. FAs were quite good in remembering what wine had been chosen.

That cleared away, the precasseroled main (choice of 2 or 3 western dishes + Royal Korean dish which no Koreans apparently were choosing) was presented using the metal holder. Decent food but had its limitation being preplated. A variety of condiments was also offered including tubes of Korean red chili paste.

Meal proceeded to preplated cheese (2 choices) and sliced fruit, wirh port offered, then a small cake with choice of hot beverages (4 teas, all freshly "brewed" on the cart though I doubt the water was hot enough for black tea).

Not much service after this except for odd water/juice runs. I'd prefer if they gave bottles of water.

Cabin was very warm maybe as I was sitting on the sunny side. Asked an FA to turn down cabin temp but if anything it was minimal. The male FAs wore their sleeveless sweaters!

As announced, pre arrival meal service which was an appetiser, choice of main course and light dessert.

Didn't take in much IFE but OZ offers some sortof noise reduction headphones that do work.

Looking at the flight map, OZ crew seem to meander with many small course adjustments throughout the flight. After turning west from the Pacific (around Sendai in Japan), the flight path wasn't exactly the straightest even allowing for ATC coming into ICN.

Touchdown was some 5-8 minutes ahead of schedule so we got to the gate (2 used) right on schedule. Quick exit through Korean immigration which was quite fast.

Icn-bkk
 

The last flight to BKK for the day left at about the same time my flight from SEA arrives so I got a 10k point award Regency room at the Hyatt Incheon. More on this later

18 Feb. ICN-BKK was OZ343 flew OZ 341. 767-300

After checking out at 1200, I lingered in the Regency lounge before taking the 1:15 to the airport. Long walk from doorway 13 to the OZ area. Checkin staff gave me the UG even though the flight wouldn't be for another 8 hours.

Got an invite to the OZ lounge (which I had access to as OZ*G anyway). The lounge - divided into BC and FC lounge though it appears you can go between the 2 easily) has many internet computers 2 shower rooms on each side (quite nice if a bit small), sleep rooms with massage chairs, and a rather nice buffet with salad bar, hot dishes, hot korean/chinese rice porridge/congee, and pastries/bread and self-serve bar.

At around 1700, I remembered that the earlier OZ flight to BKK was leaving in 20 minutes so I went to the gate to see if BC was still full (had asked earlier if I could pay to fly on the TG codeshare but the fare needed to be rechecked whcih would have required going through OZ U.S.A. at LAX). Miraculously a seat had become free. After reissuing the BP, the agent had to take me to immigration as the new BP had to be stamped! Rather strange bureaucracy. At least it wasn't too far and I wasn't even the last to board.

Got 2A on the 767-300 which was 3 rows of 2-2-2. Not too bad other than for somewhat tighter pitch than the 777. Seats were purely mechanical with only recline and leg rest buttons. I think this seat was actually the best of 777, 767 and 747 BC.

Usual food service. Salad and appetiser, choice of 3 mains (the Halibut portion was huge), cheese & fruit and dessert. Cutlery was nice and heavy.

Flight path was somewhat erratic after passing south of Hainan with micro adjustments to flight path. Arrived somewhat ahead of schedule but with a long walk from the farthest northern reaches of T1.

Sidenote on miles.

OZ actually post FF miles for own metal/own FFP when you get your BP (no. of flight and total miles are actually printed on the BP)! Before I got on the BKK flight, I checked my account and was pleased to see that the SEA-ICN miles were already posted, as were the ICN-BKK miles! With the flight change, I hoped to get postings for both flights but alas, their software is smarter than that.

Bkk-icn
 

23 Feb. OZ 342 747-400 Combi

I knew this flight was going to be full. I was even surprised I managed to get a M fare on it. Checked in just before 830 to find it was full with no hope of an UG. I heard from OZ's U.S. reservations that the BC cabin (upper deck only) was reserved to be sold as Royal Economy for a supplement. The supplement was a rather pleasant THB 1,500 (USD 39) which required a trip to the TG ticket counter. The FC cabin, with only 12-14 seats, is sold as BC.

OZ uses the CIP lounge between the 20s and 30s gate. Only sandwiches and bar service drinks here. Went to gate to ask about UGing again. Unfortunately the 2 no shows showed and were on their way.

Boarding was late as the crew bus had broken down so I made my way to the nearby TG lounge with more food and self-serve drinks. The late departure made some of the Korean pax rather angry (wonder if they had a really early connection in ICN).

Boarding started around 2300 (STD was 2240). Was guided to the upper deck to my row 11 seat. My window seat was taken but I didn't mind the aisle seat. Headsets and menu were distributed. OZ uses the same menu for the daily late evening flight (supper) and 4x weekly early AM flight (breakfast). Only one FA assigned to the UD for this flight. She distributed (and collected) headsets, and distriibuted Korean landing cards. Meal was a small shrimp salad, choice of 2 hot meals, some Korean/Asia jelly dessert (very similar to a Malaysian kuay), cold & hot drinks and bread roll.

The seat was worthwhile as it gave me a chance to sleep. No elaborate meal service to take away from nap time too. Manage to sleep before leaving Vietnam, woke up briefly over Taipei and finally and hour before landing in ICN. The old Korean 4 striper spoke the best english of any OZ pilot so far.

Landing was some 35 minutes behind schedule after departing some 55 minutes late.

Big queue at the nearest transfer security point so I walked to another OZ transfer desk. After much calling around, the OZ agent gave me my upgrade for the SEA flight. :)

Went to lounge to type this and check email. Breakfast included scrambled eggs (and liquor!) but no stuff to eat with the eggs at least with a western style breakfast.

Thanks for writing this up. Interesting to read about the (very) cheap UG to Y+ Did you feel it was worth it?

OZ transit amenities
 

I'd say. Cheaper than most/any U.S. domestic upgrades and for lower 48 transcontinental distance too.


When I got to the OZ transfer desk on the inbound flight, the agent offered me (and others) use of a hotel day room provided by OZ. First you had to go through Korean immigration and find the hotel desk. I declined in favour of getting my UG confirmed ahead of time. A meal/refreshment coupon is provided so I will use it at some time.

OZ didn't use SK lounge last February.

They co-owned a lounge right next to SK lounge with BR.

A year passed, and maybe things have changed.

I was holding UA BP, but somehow managed to use that lounge.

FYI, UA is located at N concourse and OZ is located at S concourse.

The lounge was not good actually, but not the worst one that I've used.

TG lounge at KIX really sucks.

BTW, what is *A U.K. UG cert?

I'm not interested in upgrade thing, but just curious.

I think it used to be the case - I do seem to recall a seperate OZ lounge before. Currently, OZ uses the lounge to the right of the one you first see (the old OZ lounge?). This one's empty as OZ uses the SK one now. No use having a lounge for 3 flights a week.

Some status match promo offered in the U.K. just over a year ago, mainly to lure BA FFPs to *A. You needed a U.K. domiciled elite status account.


FWIW,

"refreshment" voucher was worth KRW 8,000.

On the ICN-BKK leg, I took the earlier OZ flight as it arrived in BKK at 2130 instead of 0130.

23 Feb. ICN-SEA OZ 272 777-200 Ship 700

While in the OZ lounge, I noted that departure time had slipped to 1810, some 1/2 hour late. At some point, I went to the gate where boarding has yet to start and wouldn't until nearly 6. I still had a spare UG but could find no one interesting to UG. There was some priority boarding but it was chaotic.

2 jetways are used at ICN and the FAs were perfectly willing (and offered) to show one to one's seat though strictly unnecessary. BC was only 20/35 at best today - maybe even emptier as the front row was completely empty as was the last centre row.

Pre flight drinks were offered. Can't remember about newspapers. Slippers and headphones were offered sometime later as were U.S. landing forms. Menu after takeoff was the same as the one outbound from SEA. I was brave enough to try the Korean royal meal (bil be bap?) this time. Meal service was pretty much the same. 3 canapes but no salad, appetiser or main course. One just got the tray with the meal which was a huge bowl with various vegetables and ground beef, medium sized bowls of soup with bean sprouts and rice, and smaller bowls of red pepper sauce, dried fish fry, kimchi and something that looked like toffeed tree fungus. There was a card to guide one to eating the meal which was to mix the packet of sesame oil with the pepper paste, mix this into the big bowl, add rice, and mix well. Eat with condiments.

Interestingly, the utensils were typical Korean. A pair of long metal chopsticks and a long metal spoon. A martial artist could have used the chopsticks to cause grievious bodily harm.

Meal was followed again by cheese and fruit (OZ likes to serve edam and the soft italian bel paese out of ICN), and a pumpkin tart with the usual choice of hot beverages. I only had 2 glasses of champage (Piper Heidick red) as I was fairly buzzed after having drunk all day in the lounge.

I thought I wasn't too sleepy but soon after closing my eyes after the meal, I woke up with only 2:40 left in the 8:50 flight.

Breakfast was served 2 hours prior to landing for all classes. OZ could really start it at least 1/2 hour later in the BC cabin. Juice was offered and then he FA came to take orders, of course holding onto the menu. I chose a Korean beef sitry fry with rice and veg. The other choice was omelette and sausage. Usual linen service than a tray with yoghurt and plate of fruit. 3+ choices of bread rolls/pastries (croissant) with a bowl of butter and some U.S. jam. That cleared away, the casserole breakfast was served. Tasty and garlicky, as one would expect.

A Korean breakfast which had a large bowl of soup noodles among the things was also offered.

The flight path was a bit weird again. Takeoff to the north, then a 270 degree turn to the west before heading east to avoid N. Korean airspace, then heading ESE to Japan, around Nagoya, before flying over Honshu and heading out to the Pacific and turning NE at some point. The a/c came into the U.S. right at the edge of the Olympic peninsula where native whale hunting restarted a few years back. Gave a fine view of Vancouver island (and a distant glimpse of YVR which was where I was ultimately headed) and the San Juan islands and the inland side of Puget Sound.

The flight pretty much flew directly into SEA from the north so there was a very short taxi to the S satellite getting in just after 1105 - some 25 mins behind schedule. 1st one off the a/c and to immigration where thare was no wait. :) My bag was tagged * priority and doorside but still took some 3 minutes after the 1st bag to come off. Had to recheck the bag to get it to the main terminal but remarkably it got there before or very soon after, I did.